Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160040977 | METHODS OF REDUCING MOTION ARTIFACTS FOR OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY - A method for reducing motion artifacts in optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography images is disclosed. The method is applied to the intensity or complex OCT data prior to applying the motion contrast analysis and involves determining sub-pixel level shifts between at least two B-scans repeated approximately at the same location and applying the sub-pixel level shifts to the B-scans to be able to correct for motion and accurately determine motion contrast signal. A preferred embodiment includes the use of 2D cross correlations to register a series of B-scans in both the axial (z-) and lateral (x-) dimensions and a convolution approach to achieve sub-pixel level frame registration. | 02-11-2016 |
20160038021 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED ACCURACY IN OCT IMAGING OF THE CORNEA - Systems and methods for enhanced accuracy in optical coherence tomography imaging of the cornea are presented, including approaches for more accurate corneal surface modeling, pachymetry maps, keratometric values, and corneal power. These methods involve new scan patterns, an eye tracking mechanism for transverse motion feedback, and advanced motion correction algorithms. In one embodiment the methods comprise acquiring a first sparse set of data, using that data to create a corneal surface model, and then using the model to register a second set of denser data acquisition. This second set of data is used to create a more accurate, motion-corrected model of the cornea, from which pachymetry maps, keratometric values, and corneal power information can be generated. In addition, methods are presented for determining simulated keratometry values from optical coherence tomography data, and for better tracking and registration by using both rotation about three axes and the corneal apex. | 02-11-2016 |
20160000320 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPECTRALLY DISPERSED ILLUMINATION OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Systems and methods are presented for acquisition and processing of spectrally dispersed illumination optical coherence tomographic data. Light from a source is distributed spectrally on the sample, and each acquisition simultaneously provides partial spectral interference information from multiple locations in the sample. Thus for a given spatial point, a single observation will be of a partial spectrum A-scan. When multiple partial spectrum A-scan observations are made at the same point by shifting the spectrum of light on to the tissue, the point can be observed by the entire broadband spectrum of the light source, thereby making it possible to create a full axial resolution A-scan. | 01-07-2016 |
20160000315 | AUTOMATED ANALYSIS OF THE OPTIC NERVE HEAD: MEASUREMENTS, METHODS AND REPRESENTATIONS - The present invention relates to structural analysis of the optic nerve head (ONH). In one approach, a 3D volume of intensity data which includes the optic nerve head is acquired using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The vitreoretinal interface (VRI) and the optic disc margin are identified from the 3D data. The minimum area of a surface from the optic disc margin to the VRI is determined. This minimum area can be displayed as an image or in the alternative, a value corresponding to this minimum area can be displayed. The minimum area measurement provides relevant clinical information to determine the health of the eye. | 01-07-2016 |
20150351631 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED OPHTHALMIC IMAGING - Systems and methods for improving ophthalmic imaging by correlating the location of a measurement on the pupil of the eye with a quality of the measurement and further controlling subsequent measurements based on the quality are presented. Aspects of the invention include obtaining optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements through cataracts or other media opacities, obtaining B-scans with minimized tilt, and automated OCT data acquisition of select structures in the eye. Embodiments of the invention directed towards imaging tissues with angle dependent layer contrast and mapping the size and location of cataracts in the eye are also described. | 12-10-2015 |
20150320304 | NON-LINEAR PROJECTIONS OF 3-D MEDICAL IMAGING DATA - The present invention improves projection displays of volume data. Using the Minimum Intensity Projection (MinIP), fluid filled regions or other regions of hyporeflective tissue are displayed. By limiting the projection to partial volumes within the volume, differences in the scattering intensity within specific regions are isolated. In this way, hyperreflectivity of weakly scattering tissue can be assessed. | 11-12-2015 |
20150073270 | IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus and method are provided. The probe for an imaging apparatus includes a manually manipulable proximal portion; a straight distal portion with a distal tip for locating at a site to define an observational field; and a curved portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The imaging method includes the steps of locating a distal tip of an imaging probe at a site to define an observational field; irradiating the observational field from the distal tip; and collecting a return signal at the distal tip; wherein the probe comprises a manually manipulable proximal portion. The apparatus and method provided herein are useful for various applications including but not limited to endomicroscopy and other microsurgical procedures performed under optical stereoscopic magnified visualization, such as neurosurgery, ENT/facial surgery and spinal surgery. | 03-12-2015 |
20140362342 | VARIABLE RESOLUTION OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SCANNER AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - The invention relates generally to optical tomographic imaging and in particular to systems and methods for adapting the resolution of imaging. One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for optical coherence tomography imaging, characterized by its ability to vary the axial resolution and scanning speed during imaging. | 12-11-2014 |
20140293222 | USER INTERFACE FOR ACQUISITION, DISPLAY AND ANALYSIS OF OPHTHALMIC DIAGNOSTIC DATA - Improvements to user interfaces for ophthalmic imaging systems, in particular Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) systems are described to improve how diagnostic data are displayed, analyzed and presented to the user. The improvements include user customization of display and reports, protocol driven work flow, bookmarking of particular B-scans, accessing information from a reference library, customized normative databases, and ordering of follow-up scans directly from a review screen. A further aspect is the ability to optimize the contrast and quality of displayed B-scans using a single control parameter. Virtual real time z-tracking is described that maintains displayed data in the same depth location regardless of motion. | 10-02-2014 |
20140276025 | MULTIMODAL INTEGRATION OF OCULAR DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS - Regions-of-interest discovered from analyses of images obtained from one imaging modality can be further observed, analyzed, supplemented, and further analyzed by one or more additional imaging modalities and in an automated way. In addition, one or more pathologies identified from analyses of these regions-of-interest, and a metric of the likelihood of the presence of disease, and/or a metric of risk of disease progression can be derived therefrom. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268046 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED ACQUISITION OF OPHTHALMIC OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY DATA - Systems and methods for improved acquisition of ophthalmic optical coherence tomography data are presented, allowing for enhanced ease of use and higher quality data and analysis functionality. Embodiments include automated triggering for detecting and initiating collection of OCT ophthalmic data, an automated technique for determining the optimal number of B-scans to be collected to create the highest quality image and optimize speckle reduction, automated review of fundus images collected with an adjunct imaging modality to guide the OCT data collection, a single scan protocol in which a large field of view is collected with HD B-scans embedded at different locations depending on automated analysis of either a fundus image or sparse OCT scan, and various scan configurations for imaging eyes with large axial depth range. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268039 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VARIABLE MODE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - Systems and methods for improvements to optical coherence tomography systems for operating in different imaging modes are presented. In one embodiment, a system for identifying the presence and type of an adjunct lens operably connected to the OCT instrument for changing between imaging modes in the system is described. In a second embodiment, a system for dynamically autofocusing the OCT system depending on the layer of interest is presented. In a third embodiment, the overall power of the system used for imaging can be adjusted depending on the location and type of scan desired while accounting for the safety standards for recommended light exposure. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268038 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VARIABLE DEPTH OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - Systems and methods for variable depth optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging with a swept laser source are presented. Swept-source OCT data acquired at two different spectral resolutions is resampled using information on the wavenumber nonlinearity of the source to generate OCT images at two different depths. | 09-18-2014 |
20140240675 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED EASE AND ACCURACY OF GAZE TRACKING - Methods for improving gaze tracking are presented. These methods eliminate the need for a separate initial calibration step to determine whether the subject is properly centrally fixated during testing. In one embodiment, whether the subject is centrally fixated is determined by identifying inlier and outlier gaze descriptors; the inliers are assumed to be associated with central fixation. This reduces the total time required for testing. These methods also improve the accuracy of gaze tracking during testing without the need for individual subject calibration. Instead, a database of reference eyes is used. The subject's eye can be compared to the reference eyes, and the mapping function for one or more reference matches can be used to estimate the subject's gaze direction. In another embodiment, previous calibration data from the same subject can be used to determine whether the subject is properly centrally fixated and/or the direction of the subject's gaze. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240670 | METHOD OF MOTION CORRECTION IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - An image data set acquired by an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is corrected for effects due to motion of the sample. A first set of A-scans is acquired within a time short enough to avoid any significant motion of the sample. A second more extensive set of A-scans is acquired over an overlapping region on the sample. Significant sample motion may occur during acquisition of the second set. A-scans from the first set are matched with A-scans from the second set, based on similarity between the longitudinal optical scattering profiles they contain. Such matched pairs of A-scans are likely to correspond to the same region in the sample. Comparison of the OCT scanner coordinates that produced each A-scan in a matching pair, in conjunction with any shift in the longitudinal scattering profiles between the pair of A-scans, reveals the displacement of the sample between acquisition of the first and second A-scans in the pair. Estimates of the sample displacement are used to correct the transverse and longitudinal coordinates of the A-scans in the second set, to form a motion-corrected OCT data set. | 08-28-2014 |
20140218684 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUB-APERTURE BASED ABERRATION MEASUREMENT AND CORRECTION IN INTERFEROMETRIC IMAGING - Systems and methods for sub-aperture correlation based wavefront measurement in a thick sample and correction as a post processing technique for interferometric imaging to achieve near diffraction limited resolution are described. Theory, simulation and experimental results are presented for the case of full field interference microscopy. The inventive technique can be applied to any coherent interferometric imaging technique and does not require knowledge of any system parameters. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fast and simple way to correct for defocus aberration is described. A variety of applications for the inventive method are presented. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218683 | AUTOMATED DETECTION OF UVEITIS USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for automatically detecting, classifying and quantifying clumps indicative of inflammation in the eye using optical coherence tomography images are described. Clump detection relies on both intensity and geometric thresholding. Applications of the invention include improved diagnosis, classification and monitoring of inflammatory disease. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218363 | USER INTERFACE FOR EFFICIENTLY DISPLAYING RELEVANT OCT IMAGING DATA - The present invention is an OCT imaging system user interface for efficiently providing relevant image displays to the user. These displays are used during image acquisition to align patients and verify acquisition image quality. During image analysis, these displays indicate positional relationships between displayed data images, automatically display suspicious analysis, automatically display diagnostic data, simultaneously display similar data from multiple visits, improve access to archived data, and provide other improvements for efficient data presentation of relevant information. | 08-07-2014 |
20140192324 | SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM - An optical coherence tomography device is disclosed for improved imaging. Reduced levels of speckle in the images generated by the device are obtained by forming a B-scan from a plurality of A-scans, wherein each resolution cell of the B-scan is generated through compounding of a subset of the A-scans and wherein at least some of the subset of A-scans are separated by at least half the diameter of a speckle cell both tangent to and orthogonal to the B-scan at that cell. | 07-10-2014 |
20140176903 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL CONFOCAL IMAGING USING OCT LIGHT SOURCE AND SCAN OPTICS - Various approaches are disclosed for simultaneously generating optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal scanning laser images by spatially separating the signal normally used for OCT imaging with selective reflecting or beam directing devices. In one preferred embodiment, the invention includes a minor having a central transmission region, such that the radially outer region of the returning signal beam is reflected and used for generating a confocal image while the central part of the signal beam is transmitted and used to generate an OCT image. In other embodiments, the signals may be spatially separated in other ways, such as with an optic having a reflective center surface, a mirror having two parts oriented at different angles, one or more wedged optics, or a dispersive component. A further aspect of the invention is the ability to increase the frame rate of the confocal imaging. | 06-26-2014 |
20140081130 | AUTOMATED ANALYSIS OF THE OPTIC NERVE HEAD: MEASUREMENTS, METHODS AND REPRESENTATIONS - The present invention relates to structural analysis of the optic nerve head (ONH). In one approach, a 3D volume of intensity data which includes the optic nerve head is acquired using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The vitreoretinal interface (VRI) and the optic disc margin are identified from the 3D data. The minimum area of a surface from the optic disc margin to the VRI is determined. This minimum area can be displayed as an image or in the alternative, a value corresponding to this minimum area can be displayed. The minimum area measurement provides relevant clinical information to determine the health of the eye. | 03-20-2014 |
20140029820 | DIFFERENTIAL GEOMETRIC METRICS CHARACTERIZING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY DATA - A method is disclosed for analyzing 3D image data generated from optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. The first step in the method is to identify one or more surfaces within the 3D data set. The surfaces are then characterized using geometric primitives. Geometric primitives such as concavities, convexities, planar parts, saddles, and crevices can be used. In a preferred embodiment, the primitives are combined. Various pathological conditions of the eye can be evaluated based on any analysis of the primitives. | 01-30-2014 |
20140029015 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARTIFACT SUPPRESSION BY FREQUENCY SHIFTING OR CAVITY LENGTH ADJUSTMENT - Swept source designs that eliminate or significantly reduce artifacts in optical coherence tomography are presented. One embodiment of the present invention is a source design that frequency shifts the coherence revival interference signal to a frequency larger than the A/D detection bandwidth or the post-processing bandwidth. In another embodiment, the introduced frequency shift is large enough to introduce a Doppler shift of the modes of the laser, which causes a blurring of the comb function, and thus eliminates or reduces mode hopping. In another embodiment, adjusting the cavity optical path length prior to data acquisition depending on the given optical layout configuration to reduce or eliminate coherence revival artifacts is described. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028974 | LINE-FIELD HOLOSCOPY - A novel imaging method, line-field holoscopy is presented. A line of light is projected across an object to be investigated through an imaging system. The light scattered from the investigated object is combined with reference radiation. The combined light is projected onto a detector providing a confocal restriction in one dimension. Astigmatic optics in the return path transform the light asymmetrically such that at the detector, the line focus is imaged to the confocal restriction, while the orthogonal direction is defocused. Embodiments including a swept source with linear detection array, and spectrometer based systems utilizing a 2D detector array are described. The data may be reconstructed to a B-scan by two-dimensional Fourier transform or other reconstruction method with or without combination of more complex algorithms. | 01-30-2014 |
20130301008 | ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION OF OCT ANGIOGRAPHY DATA - Methods for analyzing and visualizing OCT angiography data are presented. In one embodiment, an automated method for identifying the foveal avascular zone in a two dimensional en face image generated from motion contrast data is presented. Several 3D visualization techniques are presented including one in which a particular vessel is selected in a motion contrast image and all connected vessels are highlighted. A further embodiment includes a stereoscopic visualization method. In addition, a variety of metrics for characterizing OCT angiography image data are described. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301000 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FASTER OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING - Systems and methods for faster acquisition and processing of OCT image data are presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, an OCT system is operated in two different acquisition modes of different axial resolutions to allow for efficient collection of OCT Angiography data while also collecting high resolution OCT data. In another embodiment, a reduced subset of a collected data set is used for OCT Angiography data analysis. In another embodiment, a sweep of a swept-source laser is split into different spectral components covering different transverse locations on the sample. A further aspect includes the ability to process all or a portion of collected OCT data with one motion contrast technique before or while a second set is processed using a different motion contrast technique. | 11-14-2013 |
20130286354 | ASSESSMENT OF RETINAL DISRUPTION - Systems and methods for improving the assessment of disruption or abnormalities to retinal layers are presented. The disruptions are detected by analyzing at least one segmented boundary of optical coherence tomography data. Several different types of analysis can be used alone or in combination to make an assessment of the level of disruption to the particular boundary or layer defined by the boundary. The results can be presented as an end face image and quantified to report an amount of disruption. In one embodiment, a method for determining the disruption to the photoreceptor outer segment is described. | 10-31-2013 |
20130250241 | VARIABLE RESOLUTION OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SCANNER AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - The invention relates generally to optical tomographic imaging and in particular to systems and methods for adapting the resolution of imaging. One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for optical coherence tomography imaging, characterized by its ability to vary the axial resolution and scanning speed during imaging. | 09-26-2013 |
20130229621 | METHOD FOR FINDING THE LATERAL POSITION OF THE FOVEA IN AN SDOCT IMAGE VOLUME - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for finding the lateral position of the fovea in an OCT image volume. In one instance, a cost function is developed whose minimum is located at or near the foveal center. This cost function includes one or more measures of retinal layer thickness and/or measures of distance from blood vessels or a priori locations. | 09-05-2013 |
20130222762 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING MOTION OF A SUBJECT USING A SERIES OF PARTIAL IMAGES FROM AN IMAGING SYSTEM - A line scan imager is used to determine the motion of a subject. Each line of image data from the line scan imager is compared with a reference image. The location of a matching line in the reference image reveals the displacement of the subject. The current subject displacement can be determined based on each line of image data. The resulting displacement information can be used to correctly place other optical beams on the subject. The method can be applied to tracking the human eye to facilitate measurement, imaging, or treatment with a beam of optical radiation. | 08-29-2013 |
20130218927 | METHOD FOR SCALING OPHTHALMIC IMAGING MEASUREMENTS TO REFLECT FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY RISK - Methods for relating ophthalmic structural measurements to ophthalmic function are presented. The central idea is that each value for a given structural measurement can be empirically associated with a certain likelihood of disability or reduced function by measuring relevant patient populations in which some subjects have those disabilities This method is intended as an aid to doctors who manage glaucoma, or for the study of glaucoma or glaucoma therapy in clinical trials. The method could also be used in other progressive diseases where more than one method is used to diagnose and manage disease, and it is desirable to use a structural method to predict the risk of further functional loss. | 08-22-2013 |
20130208240 | SEGMENTATION AND ENHANCED VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR FULL-RANGE FOURIER DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Presented here are new processing techniques for optical coherence tomography (OCT) data that allow for improved visualization and use of full-range OCT images. These techniques minimize the central line artifact and the complex conjugate artifact without requiring additional system hardware or significantly increasing post-processing time. The central line artifact is minimized by normalizing each A-scan to account for ripples at the zero-delay position. The complex conjugate artifact is minimized by segmentation of a layer or layers that cross the zero-delay position, and in some embodiments by further segmentation of other surfaces based on the segmentation of the initial layer or layers. The segmentation information is then used to selectively attenuate the complex conjugate image. It may also be used for other purposes, such as dewarping. | 08-15-2013 |
20130188140 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED ACCURACY IN OCT IMAGING OF THE CORNEA - Systems and methods for enhanced accuracy in optical coherence tomography imaging of the cornea are presented, including approaches for more accurate corneal surface modeling, pachymetry maps, keratometric values, and corneal power. These methods involve new scan patterns, an eye tracking mechanism for transverse motion feedback, and advanced motion correction algorithms. In one embodiment the methods comprise acquiring a first sparse set of data, using that data to create a corneal surface model, and then using the model to register a second set of denser data acquisition. This second set of data is used to create a more accurate, motion-corrected model of the cornea, from which pachymetry maps, keratometric values, and corneal power information can be generated. In addition, methods are presented for determining simulated keratometry values from optical coherence tomography data, and for better tracking and registration by using both rotation about three axes and the corneal apex. | 07-25-2013 |
20130188132 | STANDARDIZED DISPLAY OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING DATA - Systems and methods for efficiently displaying large volumes of medical imaging data using pre-defined dynamic displays to illustrate key anatomic features are described. In a preferred embodiment, one or more pulse files comprising en face images of sub sections of the volume are displayed sequentially to the user in a playback loop. These displays can aid in navigation of data for review and future data acquisition. Additional images generated from the data can be displayed next to or overlaid on the pulse files. | 07-25-2013 |
20130181976 | USER INTERFACE FOR EFFICIENTLY DISPLAYING RELEVANT OCT IMAGING DATA - The present invention is an OCT imaging system user interface for efficiently providing relevant image displays to the user. These displays are used during image acquisition to align patients and verify acquisition image quality. During image analysis, these displays indicate positional relationships between displayed data images, automatically display suspicious analysis, automatically display diagnostic data, simultaneously display similar data from multiple visits, improve access to archived data, and provide other improvements for efficient data presentation of relevant information. | 07-18-2013 |
20130176532 | DATA ACQUISITION METHODS FOR REDUCED MOTION ARTIFACTS AND APPLICATIONS IN OCT ANGIOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for reducing the effects of motion on functional optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging are described. Embodiments including post-processing and motion tracking are presented. A preferred embodiment in which functional OCT data is collected and analyzed for motion as a multiple scan unit is described. An extension of the invention to the collection of large field of view or montaged functional OCT data sets is also presented. | 07-11-2013 |
20130120757 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS OF VARIABLE IMAGING DEPTH IN FOURIER DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Systems, methods and applications for adjusting the imaging depth of a Fourier Domain optical coherence tomography system without impacting the axial resolution of the system are presented. One embodiment of the invention involves changing the sweep rate of a swept-source OCT system while maintaining the same data acquisition rate and spectral bandwidth of the source. Another embodiment involves changing the data acquisition rate of a SS-OCT system while maintaining the same sweep rate over the same spectral bandwidth. Several applications of variable imaging depth in the field of ophthalmic imaging are described. | 05-16-2013 |
20130100456 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for increasing the duty cycle and/or producing interleaved pulses of alternating polarization states in swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are considered. Embodiments including improved buffering, frequency selecting filter sharing among multiple SOAs, intracavity switching, and multiple wavelength bands are described. The unique polarization properties of the source configurations have advantages in speckle reduction, polarization-sensitive measurements, polarization state dependent phase shifts, spatial shifts, and temporal shifts in OCT measurements. | 04-25-2013 |
20130100404 | AUTOMATED DETECTION OF UVEITIS USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for automatically detecting, classifying and quantifying clumps indicative of inflammation in the eye using optical coherence tomography images are described. Clump detection relies on both intensity and geometric thresholding. Applications of the invention include improved diagnosis, classification and monitoring of inflammatory disease. | 04-25-2013 |
20130094720 | NON-LINEAR PROJECTIONS OF 3-D MEDICAL IMAGING DATA - The present invention improves projection displays of volume data. Using the Minimum Intensity Projection (MinIP), fluid filled regions or other regions of hyporeflective tissue are displayed. By limiting the projection to partial volumes within the volume, differences in the scattering intensity within specific regions are isolated. In this way, hyperreflectivity of weakly scattering tissue can be assessed. | 04-18-2013 |
20130070204 | Systems and Methods for Refractive Correction in Visual Field Testing - Systems and methods for providing variable refractive correction in a visual field testing device are presented. One embodiment of the variable refractive correction involves two or more aligned transmissive plates arranged to produce changes in refractive power by translation or rotation of the plates relative to each other. Several alternative designs for providing variable refractive correction are described. The refractive correction can be set manually or automatically based on knowledge of the refractive error of a specific patient and spherical and cylindrical refractive correction are possible. Additional lens systems can be used to extend the range of refractive correction to accommodate a larger patient population. | 03-21-2013 |
20130010302 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED BALANCED DETECTION IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - Systems and methods for reducing noise in balanced detection based optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are described. Embodiments including both optical hardware and electronic based solutions to spectrally filter and attenuate the source reference light in optical coherence tomography in an effort to reduce RIN and FPN noise in OCT systems are presented. A novel application to electronic balanced detection schemes in which a single source of reference detection is balanced against the interferometric signals from multiple interferometers is also presented. | 01-10-2013 |
20130010260 | LIGHT FIELD CAMERA FOR FUNDUS PHOTOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for applying the concept of lightfield sensors to fundus photography are presented. In one embodiment, the ability to isolate specific regions of the collected lightfield are used to reduce the effects of glare in a fundus image. Additional embodiments in which aberrations can be characterized and removed, an image from a particular plane in the collected light field is used to aid in instrument alignment, and dynamic optimization of collection pupil diameter is accomplished are also presented. | 01-10-2013 |
20120308108 | METHOD OF BIOIMAGE DATA PROCESSING FOR REVEALING MORE MEANINGFUL ANATOMIC FEATURES OF DISEASED TISSUES - The present invention discloses a method for generating elevation maps or images of a tissue layer/boundary with respect to a fitted reference surface, comprising the steps of finding and segmenting a desired tissue layer/boundary; fitting a smooth reference surface to the segmented tissue layer/boundary; calculating elevations of the same or other tissue layer/boundary relative to the fitted reference surface; and generating maps of elevation relative to the fitted surface. The elevation can be displayed in various ways including three-dimensional surface renderings, topographical contour maps, contour maps, en-face color maps, and en-face grayscale maps. The elevation can also be combined and simultaneously displayed with another tissue layer/boundary dependent set of image data to provide additional information for diagnostics. | 12-06-2012 |
20120287401 | INTEGRATION AND FUSION OF DATA FROM DIAGNOSTIC MEASUREMENTS FOR GLAUCOMA DETECTION AND PROGRESSION ANALYSIS - Systems and methods for improving the reliability of glaucoma diagnosis and progression analysis are described. The measurements made from one type of diagnostic device are adjusted based on another measurement using a priori knowledge of the relationship between the two measurements including the relationship between structure and function, knowledge of disease progression, and knowledge of instrument performance at specific locations in the eye. The adjusted or fused measurement values can be displayed to the clinician, compared to normative data, or used as input in a machine learning classifier to enhance the diagnostic and progression analysis of the disease. | 11-15-2012 |
20120277579 | INTER-FRAME COMPLEX OCT DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES - Techniques for collecting and processing complex OCT data to detect localized motion contrast information with enhanced accuracy and sensitivity are presented. In a preferred embodiment, vector differences between complex OCT signals taken at the same location on the sample are used to detect blood flow in the retina. Additional embodiments involving non-linear intensity weighting of the motion contrast information, normalization of the vector difference amplitudes, and calculating the absolute value of the standard deviation of Doppler signal are described. Image processing techniques to enhance the images resulting from these motion contrast techniques are also presented. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274943 | FIZEAU REFERENCE ARM USING A CHIRPED FIBER BRAGG GRATING - An improved interferometer measurement system is presented. In a preferred embodiment, a chirped fiber Bragg grating is used as a reference surface in a Fizeau interferometer arrangement for optical coherence tomography imaging of the eye. The grating creates a virtual reference surface near the sample and allows for a relatively short reference arm while maintaining close to zero delay interference conditions. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274905 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED VISUAL FIELD TESTING - Systems and methods for improving the reliability of visual field test results are presented. In one embodiment, images of the eye are recorded during the presentation of visual stimuli and are displayed to the user to provide information on eye motion, eye position relative to trial lens, and eyelid closure during the test. Individual or combined images can be displayed for individual stimuli, specific test points, or points in the gaze trace in various embodiments of the invention. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274900 | ULTRA WIDE-FIELD OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Systems and methods for expanding the field-of-view of ophthalmic scanning devices are presented. An ophthalmic scanning device is designed such that the pivot point of the scanning optics is maintained at a fixed location in the pupil while the scanning optics are rotated about the eye to obtain imaging data over an increased field-of-view than can be achieved by the scanning optics alone. The rotation can be achieved using a singular rotational motion of the scanning optics about a rotational axes coincident with the scanning pivot point or can be achieved using a combination of rotational motion with a second motion either rotational or translational to maintain the scanning pivot point at the fixed location. Embodiments related to optical coherence tomography and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy are described. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274898 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED CLASSIFICATION OF ABNORMALITIES IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGES OF THE EYE - Systems and methods for classifying abnormalities within optical coherence tomography images of the eye are presented. One embodiment of the present invention is the classification of pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) based on characteristics of their internal reflectivity, size and shape. The classification can be based on selected subsets of the data located within or surrounding the abnormalities. Training data can be used to generate the classification scheme and the classification can be weighted to highlight specific classes of particular clinical interest. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274897 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED OPHTHALMIC IMAGING - Systems and methods for improving ophthalmic imaging by correlating the location of a measurement on the pupil of the eye with a quality of the measurement and further controlling subsequent measurements based on the quality are presented. Aspects of the invention include obtaining optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements through cataracts or other media opacities, obtaining B-scans with minimized tilt, and automated OCT data acquisition of select structures in the eye. Embodiments of the invention directed towards imaging tissues with angle dependent layer contrast and mapping the size and location of cataracts in the eye are also described. | 11-01-2012 |
20120265059 | IMAGING OF POLARIZATION SCRAMBLING TISSUE - The present invention provides for the detection and display of polarization scrambling tissue without resolving the polarization state of the backscattered imaging beam. In one embodiment, we illuminate the tissue using two different polarizations. A first polarization determines a first image of high intensity while the second polarization determines a second image of low intensity. Comparison and combination of the first and second images determines tissue which scrambles the polarization in neighbouring detection cells. | 10-18-2012 |
20120249956 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENTLY OBTAINING MEASUREMENTS OF THE HUMAN EYE USING TRACKING - Systems and methods for efficiently obtaining optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement data with reduced effects of motion are presented. One embodiment involves determining the amount of motion present during the collection of an OCT data set based on images of the eye collected at the same time as the OCT data, and recollecting select portions of the OCT data set when the amount of eye motion is determined to exceed a predetermined threshold. Another embodiment includes enabling or disabling a tracking feature based on the quality of the images available for tracking. Another embodiment includes reducing the effect of motion in the axial direction based on a comparison to a model of the eye constructed from OCT data. The method can also be used to reduce the presence of mirror image artifacts in an OCT image. | 10-04-2012 |
20120140238 | SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM - An optical coherence tomography device is disclosed for improved imaging. Reduced levels of speckle in the images generated by the device are obtained by forming a B-scan from a plurality of A-scans, wherein each resolution cell of the B-scan is generated through compounding of a subset of the A-scans and wherein at least some of the subset of A-scans are separated by at least half the diameter of a speckle cell both tangent to and orthogonal to the B-scan at that cell. | 06-07-2012 |
20120140175 | METHOD OF MOTION CORRECTION IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - An image data set acquired by an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is corrected for effects due to motion of the sample. A first set of A-scans is acquired within a time short enough to avoid any significant motion of the sample. A second more extensive set of A-scans is acquired over an overlapping region on the sample. A-scans from the first set are matched with A-scans from the second set. Comparison of the OCT scanner coordinates that produced each A-scan in a matching pair reveals the displacement of the sample between acquisition of the first and second A-scans in the pair. Estimates of the sample displacement are used to correct the transverse and longitudinal coordinates of the A-scans in the second set, to form a motion-corrected OCT data set. | 06-07-2012 |
20120128222 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING MOTION OF A SUBJECT USING A SERIES OF PARTIAL IMAGES FROM AN IMAGING SYSTEM - A line scan imager is used to determine the motion of a subject. Each line of image data from the line scan imager is compared with a reference image. The location of a matching line in the reference image reveals the displacement of the subject. The current subject displacement can be determined based on each line of image data. The resulting displacement information can be used to correctly place other optical beams on the subject. The method can be applied to tracking the human eye to facilitate measurement, imaging, or treatment with a beam of optical radiation. | 05-24-2012 |
20120075584 | METHODS FOR MAPPING TISSUE WITH OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY DATA - Various methods are disclosed for mapping optical coherence tomography (OCT) data to facilitate review and diagnosis. In one aspect, high resolution 2D line scans are obtained along with lower density 3D cube scans and displayed in a manner to provide context to the clinician. In another aspect, OCT data is analyzed to provide information about non-uniformities of the tissue. Binary image maps of maps useful for determining tautness of membranes are also disclosed. | 03-29-2012 |
20120062841 | METHOD FOR FINDING THE LATERAL POSITION OF THE FOVEA IN AN SDOCT IMAGE VOLUME - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for finding the lateral position of the fovea in an OCT image volume. In one instance, a cost function is developed whose minimum is located at or near the foveal center. This cost function includes one or more measures of retinal layer thickness and/or measures of distance from blood vessels or a priori locations. | 03-15-2012 |
20120045101 | METHOD OF BIOIMAGE DATA PROCESSING FOR REVEALING MORE MEANINGFUL ANATOMIC FEATURES OF DISEASED TISSUES - The present invention discloses a method for generating elevation maps or images of a tissue layer/boundary with respect to a fitted reference surface, comprising the steps of finding and segmenting a desired tissue layer/boundary; fitting a smooth reference surface to the segmented tissue layer/boundary; calculating elevations of the same or other tissue layer/boundary relative to the fitted reference surface; and generating maps of elevation relative to the fitted surface. The elevation can be displayed in various ways including three-dimensional surface renderings, topographical contour maps, contour maps, en-face color maps, and en-face grayscale maps. The elevation can also be combined and simultaneously displayed with another tissue layer/boundary dependent set of image data to provide additional information for diagnostics. | 02-23-2012 |
20110280810 | SURGICAL OPTICAL SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING BRAIN TUMORS - A method of detecting a brain tumor includes administering indocyanine green to a living body; exposing brain tissue in the living body; irradiating the exposed brain tissue with excitation light of indocyanine green; obtaining an image based on fluorescence of the excited indocyanine green in the brain tissue, wherein the image is obtained using an endomicroscope; and identifying portions of the brain tissue corresponding to the brain tumor based on the image. | 11-17-2011 |
20110190657 | GLAUCOMA COMBINATORIAL ANALYSIS - The subject invention relates to combinatorial analyses of data from two or more diagnostic tests for the detection of eye diseases, simplified interpretation of test results, and assessment of disease stage and rate of change. Of particular interest is to develop combinatorial analyses to improve glaucoma detection and progression rate assessment based on combinations of structural and functional tests. More specifically, approaches are described where data of one or more tests and their normative database are converted to the distribution and scale of another test for further analysis to detect glaucomatous damage; approaches are also described where data of more than one tests are used to assess stage index and rate of change; in addition, methods for displaying the combinatorial analysis results are disclosed. | 08-04-2011 |
20110176142 | Optical Coherence Tomography Methods and Systems - Frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) systems and methods are provided. Thereby, a first measurement and a second measurement is performed, wherein in the first measurement an object region is illuminated by measuring light having a spectrum with a first spectral width and in the second measurement the object region is illuminated with measuring light having a spectrum with a second spectral width, wherein the first spectral width is at least 10% greater than the second spectral width. Further, during the first measurement intensities of spectral ranges of light having interacted with the object and being superimposed with reference light are detected, wherein a width of these spectral ranges is greater than a corresponding width during the second measurement. Thus, switching an axial field of view of structural information of the object across a depth direction is enabled upon minimizing radiation damage at the object. | 07-21-2011 |
20110063573 | RNFL MEASUREMENT ANALYSIS - One embodiment of the present invention accounts for individual anatomical variation when evaluating optical nerve fiber measurements. In one aspect, contextual information is used to compensate or correct measurement data. In another aspect, reference coordinates are remapped for improved comparison or visualization. In one embodiment of this latter aspect, the method uses measurements of nerve fiber capacity and maps of nerve fiber retinal service to improve sensitivity and specificity in eye function metrics. In one instance, we use the birefringence of nerve fibers to determine the orientation of the fibers within the RNFL. Orientation of the fibers about the ONH is indicative of the service provided by the fibers and is used to improve the interpretation of thickness measurements of the nerve fiber layer. Normalized nerve fiber measurements about the optic nerve head improve specificity and sensitivity as compared to the standard model. These improvements are a result of partitioning the normative database or modifying the measurement data prior to comparison. Statistics on normalized measurements of nerve fiber bundles also show improvements in specificity and sensitivity. | 03-17-2011 |
20110043757 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING MOTION OF A SUBJECT USING A SERIES OF PARTIAL IMAGES FROM AN IMAGING SYSTEM - A line scan imager is used to determine the motion of a subject. Each line of image data from the line scan imager is compared with a reference image. The location of a matching line in the reference image reveals the displacement of the subject. The current subject displacement can be determined based on each line of image data. The resulting displacement information can be used to correctly place other optical beams on the subject. The method can be applied to tracking the human eye to facilitate measurement, imaging, or treatment with a beam of optical radiation. | 02-24-2011 |
20110034803 | NON-LINEAR PROJECTIONS OF 3-D MEDICAL IMAGING DATA - The present invention improves projection displays of volume data. Using the Minimum Intensity Projection (MinIP), fluid filled regions or other regions of hyporeflective tissue are displayed. By limiting the projection to partial volumes within the volume, differences in the scattering intensity within specific regions are isolated. In this way, hyperreflectivity of weakly scattering tissue can be assessed. | 02-10-2011 |
20110007321 | SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM - An optical coherence tomography device is disclosed for improved imaging. Reduced levels of speckle in the images generated by the device are obtained by forming a B-scan from a plurality of A-scans, wherein each resolution cell of the B-scan is generated through compounding of a subset of the A-scans and wherein at least some of the subset of A-scans are separated by at least half the diameter of a speckle cell both tangent to and orthogonal to the B-scan at that cell. | 01-13-2011 |
20100315594 | HIGH PRECISION CONTRAST RATIO DISPLAY FOR VISUAL STIMULUS - Embodiments of the present invention include approaches for controlling light valve devices to improve the range and precision of the contrast ratio and the grayscale levels of a display used for visual field tests. In one embodiment, two or more illumination devices are used to enable the display device to display a wide range of contrast stimuli at precise illumination intensities over a fixed background illumination level. In another embodiment, the gamma curves of the display elements are adjusted to allow greater variations in the brightness of the display. | 12-16-2010 |
20100278402 | METHODS FOR MAPPING TISSUE WITH OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY DATA - Various methods are disclosed for mapping optical coherence tomography (OCT) data to facilitate review and diagnosis. In one aspect, high resolution 2D line scans are obtained along with lower density 3D cube scans and displayed in a manner to provide context to the clinician. In another aspect, QCT data is analyzed to provide information about non-uniformities of the tissue. Binary image maps of maps useful for determining tautness of membranes are also disclosed. | 11-04-2010 |
20100245838 | METHOD OF MOTION CORRECTION IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - An image data set acquired by an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is corrected for effects due to motion of the sample. A first set of A-scans is acquired within a time short enough to avoid any significant motion of the sample. A second more extensive set of A-scans is acquired over an overlapping region on the sample. Significant sample motion may occur during acquisition of the second set. A-scans from the first set are matched with A-scans from the second set, based on similarity between the longitudinal optical scattering profiles they contain. Such matched pairs of A-scans are likely to correspond to the same region in the sample. Comparison of the OCT scanner coordinates that produced each A-scan in a matching pair, in conjunction with any shift in the longitudinal scattering profiles between the pair of A-scans, reveals the displacement of the sample between acquisition of the first and second A-scans in the pair. Estimates of the sample displacement are used to correct the transverse and longitudinal coordinates of the A-scans in the second set, to form a motion-corrected OCT data set. | 09-30-2010 |
20100226542 | METHOD OF BIOIMAGE DATA PROCESSING FOR REVEALING MORE MEANINGFUL ANATOMIC FEATURES OF DISEASED TISSUES - The present invention discloses a method for generating elevation maps or images of a tissue layer/boundary with respect to a fitted reference surface, comprising the steps of finding and segmenting a desired tissue layer/boundary; fitting a smooth reference surface to the segmented tissue layer/boundary; calculating elevations of the same or other tissue layer/boundary relative to the fitted reference surface; and generating maps of elevation relative to the fitted surface. The elevation can be displayed in various ways including three-dimensional surface renderings, topographical contour maps, contour maps, en-face color maps, and en-face grayscale maps. The elevation can also be combined and simultaneously displayed with another tissue layer/boundary dependent set of image data to provide additional information for diagnostics. | 09-09-2010 |
20100110376 | VARIABLE RESOLUTION OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SCANNER AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - The invention relates generally to optical tomographic imaging and in particular to systems and methods for adapting the resolution of imaging. One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for optical coherence tomography imaging, characterized by its ability to vary the axial resolution and scanning speed during imaging. | 05-06-2010 |
20090268162 | METHOD FOR FINDING THE LATERAL POSITION OF THE FOVEA IN AN SDOCT IMAGE VOLUME - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for finding the lateral position of the fovea in an OCT image volume. In one instance, a cost function is developed whose minimum is located at or near the foveal center. This cost function includes one or more measures of retinal layer thickness and/or measures of distance from blood vessels or a priori locations. | 10-29-2009 |
20090257065 | SURGICAL MICROSCOPY SYSTEM HAVING AN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FACILITY - A surgical microscopy system is provided wherein an optical coherence tomography facility is integrated into a microscopy system. A beam of measuring light formed by collimating optics of an OCT system is deflected by a beam scanner, traverses imaging optics, and is reflected by a reflector such that the beam of measuring light traverses an objective lens of microscopy optics and is directed to an object region of the microscopy optics. A position of the beam of measuring light being incident on the reflector is substantially independent on a direction into which the beam of measuring light is deflected by the beam scanner. When traveling through the beam scanner, the beam of measuring light is comprised of a bundle of substantially parallel light rays. | 10-15-2009 |
20090247862 | Imaging of polarization scrambling tissue - The present invention provides for the detection and display of polarization scrambling tissue without resolving the polarization state of the backscattered imaging beam. In one embodiment, we illuminate the tissue using two different polarizations. A first polarization determines a first image of high intensity while the second polarization determines a second image of low intensity. Comparison and combination of the first and second images determines tissue which scrambles the polarization in neighbouring detection cells. | 10-01-2009 |